tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post1787456635000213055..comments2023-10-16T13:06:42.360+01:00Comments on Happiness of Being: The Teachings of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi: Is it possible to have a ‘direct but temporary experience of the self’ or to watch the disappearance of the I-thought?Michael Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460943269122289281noreply@blogger.comBlogger98125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-53496672731688337982019-07-15T19:50:45.976+01:002019-07-15T19:50:45.976+01:00This is what Ramana Maharishi himself has to say a...This is what Ramana Maharishi himself has to say about this topic in Talk # 95 dated 13th November 1935:<br /><br />Talk 95.<br />A question was raised as follows by Maj. A. W. Chadwick:-<br />Mr. Edward Carpenter, a certain mystic, has written in a book that<br />he had Self-Realisation on some occasions and that its effects lasted<br />sometimes afterwards, only to be gradually lost. Whereas Sri Ramana<br />Gita says, “Granthi (knot = bondage), snapped once, is snapped for<br />ever.” In the case of this mystic, the bondage seems to have persisted<br />even after Self-Realisation. How can it be so?<br />The Master cited Kaivalya as follows:-<br />The disciple, after realising the all-shining, unitary, unbroken state<br />of Being-Knowledge-Bliss, surrendered himself to the master and<br />humbly prayed to know how he could repay the master’s Grace.<br />The Master said:<br />“My reward consists in your permanent unbroken Bliss. Do not<br />slip away from it.”<br />D.: Having once experienced the Supreme Bliss, how can one stray<br />away from it?<br />M.: Oh yes! It happens. The predisposition adhering to him from time<br />immemorial will draw him out and so ignorance overtakes him.<br />D.: What are the obstacles to remaining steady in unbroken Bliss?<br />How can they be overcome?<br />M.: The obstacles are:<br />(1) Ignorance which is forgetfulness of one’s pure being.<br />(2) Doubt which consists in wondering if even the experience was<br />of the Real or of the unreal.<br />(3) Error which consists in the “I-am-the-body” idea, and thinking<br />that the world is real. These are overcome by hearing the truth,<br />reflection on it and concentration.<br />The Master continued: Experience is said to be temporary or<br />permanent. The first experience is temporary and by concentration it<br />can become permanent. In the former the bondage is not completely destroyed; it remains subtle and reasserts itself in due<br />course. But in the latter it is destroyed root and branch, never<br />to appear again. The expression yogabhrashta (those who have<br />fallen down from yoga) in Srimad Bhagavad Gita refers to the<br />former class of men.Shankerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10091254166070457856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-69367902186004946572019-06-18T23:46:19.297+01:002019-06-18T23:46:19.297+01:00It seems David Godman is in agreement with Michael...It seems David Godman is in agreement with Michael, that until the Self Realisation is permanent, it is mediated via the "I-thought". (from the link David Godman supplied in the his comment). <br /><br /><br />In the responses to the ‘Ajata’ posting there was some discussion about whether temporary experiences of the Self could be classed as ‘ajata’, whether an experience of the Self is necessarily an experience of ajata, and so on. If these temporary experiences are, as Bhagavan seems to be saying here, just very subtle states of mind, then I would say that these experiences are not ‘ajata’. For me (and you are all welcome to disagree on this) the experience of ajata cannot be a mediated one. There cannot be a valid ajata experience if it is mediated through a ‘created’ and imaginary entity.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14448500420421824046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-4453096747961849042019-04-04T02:06:52.451+01:002019-04-04T02:06:52.451+01:00Like how Bhagavan mentions in Who Am I, don't ...Like how Bhagavan mentions in Who Am I, don't keep brooding that I'm sinner, what am I do? Is it possible to uproot all vasanas? He says these very thoughts are obstructing our realization. <br /><br />I also realized, that thoughts are not problem but our identification and belief on those thoughts, how much deeply we hold and believe them. Not all thoughts that arise has same energy pull.It is the belief, hold that gives strength to these thoughts.Palanihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18034312448262280563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-49676947078512799732019-04-04T02:03:38.090+01:002019-04-04T02:03:38.090+01:00Hello Salazar, the last comment was very powerful ...Hello Salazar, the last comment was very powerful with reference to Papaji,the beliefs etc. There is a section in Bhagavan's Parayanam book which is daily sung in the ashram. One them is called Devikalotra. It is said that Lord Shiva gave instructions to Devi Parvati. It is very powerful one where it is mentioned no prayer is needed, no chanting, no meditation, no rituals, he rules out what sastras consider . It is like just be silent. <br /><br />When I look at myself, I do realize, we unconsciously believe certain things, Only Grace can take away ignorance, I need to do intense sadhana, I need to be very sattvic in nature, I should go to Tiruannamalai in Ramanashram, I have to surrender etc. Actually this very thoughts needs to be enquired. It all comes down to Just Being and one has to have that deep love for Being than any interest in thoughts no matter how noble they might seem to be. Palanihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18034312448262280563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-85642347941800982242019-04-02T16:39:06.198+01:002019-04-02T16:39:06.198+01:00Who said that one has to go for a search of a guru...Who said that one has to go for a search of a guru? Besides, if someone searches, i.e. like that Belgian woman (who went to India on a search for a guru and actually met Papaji) who then had an intimate relationship with Papaji, or not is entirely up to one's prarabdha karma.<br /><br />So if we'll meet a sage or not is not depended on our (what is only imagined anyway) sankalpa but on our prarabdha karma. Thus any discussion re. this topic is redundant since it is already decided who'll meet a sage or not. <br /><br />I.e. it was destined that David Godman went to India and met Nisargadatta Maharaj, Papaji, Annamalai Swami, Lakshmana Swamy, and other saints or sages. His desire was of course driven by his vasanas. He could not have done anything differently (except to not to identify with the entity "David Godman"). <br /><br />Also, one can strongly desire something but again if that desire doesn't align with one's prarabdha karma then it will not come to fruition. It will have to wait for a future lifetime unless there is realization before that. We are always free to be silent at all times, to not participate in any outward actions our [imagined] body does.<br /><br />Papaji said that his realization was "delayed" because he believed the sastras (or "teachings"/ concepts). He believed that if one has an unfulfilled sexual desire for a woman (according to the sastras) that one has to be reborn. He emphatically exclaimed that this is not true. It only came to fruition because he believed it to be true and only that belief created another lifetime.<br /><br />Papaji stressed that one can wipe out one's desires with one stroke. The only obstacle is that most will and cannot believe that and that unwillingness is the reason that it won't work. <br /><br />That goes along with Michael's belief that only "prolonged, hard and intense sadhana" will yield into Self-realization.<br /><br />Since Michael believes that it WILL be prolonged and hard for him. Because that belief of his mind projects that belief into this phenomenal world and it will be the obstacle to an experience of Self.<br /><br />Papaji's comment about that was utmost profound and, if accepted, can shorten one's path immensely. . .https://www.blogger.com/profile/03243347924405863536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-67289104954203692202019-04-01T21:38:49.211+01:002019-04-01T21:38:49.211+01:00Mouna,
greetings again,
thanks for your nice story...Mouna,<br />greetings again,<br />thanks for your nice story about the photo of Bhagavan Ramana...and your experience <br />"Flying back home, my next seat neighbor in the plane, a chinese lady that didn’t speak a word of english, suddenly took out a book of Bhagavan, in chinese, which she started reading...".anadi-anantahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08815024045988099944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-20466751582364466642019-04-01T20:41:53.486+01:002019-04-01T20:41:53.486+01:00This comment has been removed by the author.. .https://www.blogger.com/profile/03243347924405863536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-59343127260835307512019-04-01T15:04:29.820+01:002019-04-01T15:04:29.820+01:00”amazing how may preconceptions and imaginations s...<i>”amazing how may preconceptions and imaginations swirl in people minds”</i><br />Hahaha, couldn’t agree more with that, Louise!Mounahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02416580298727681711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-25279953711086290852019-04-01T12:02:50.373+01:002019-04-01T12:02:50.373+01:00Mouna,
greetings,
"Who is there nowadays? Eve...Mouna,<br />greetings,<br />"Who is there nowadays? Even David Godman says that if there was anyone of that caliber he will be seated at his feet right now,...".<br />That caliber was never absent and is always and nowadays there - but right now has the form of a mountain. "This is Arunachala Siva, the Ocean of Grace that bestows Liberation when thought of". Is that not enough ?anadi-anantahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08815024045988099944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-8879903073031746692019-04-01T00:31:22.101+01:002019-04-01T00:31:22.101+01:00Who is talking about postponing sadhana. Geez Loui...Who is talking about postponing sadhana. Geez Louise, amazing how may preconceptions and imaginations swirl in people minds.Purification of mind does NOT reflect on one’s outward behavior, a purified mind is no mind and any perceived behavior is illusionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03403745904820287115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-67434820889971210432019-03-31T20:41:17.314+01:002019-03-31T20:41:17.314+01:00"And although nothing much can be seen throug..."And although nothing much can be seen through the mist, there is somehow the blissful feeling that one is looking in the right direction.” Vladimir Nabokov.<br /><br />I found this quote "by chance" yesterday, which describes so well, for this aspirant, his current experience with self-investigation. So I share it here with one and all. Jeremy Lennonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04582866861617640609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-18336403174009707272019-03-31T17:39:30.441+01:002019-03-31T17:39:30.441+01:00Once Michael wrote an article in which some of its...Once Michael wrote an article in which some of its chapters were a direct response to one of my comments about the illusion of free will. It was a long article (Michael’s). At first (without even reading it) I reacted by contesting one or two points at the beginning of those sections that where addressing my point of view and challenged the flaws on my opinion. <br /><br />I remember quite vividly saying to myself “this is too long and boring and it will be always the same song, etc, etc... Long time passed and one day decided to read it entirely. I discovered that I’ve been spending more time reacting to “my idea” of what was in the article than actually reading it and challenging the views one by one!<br /><br />“Too long” to read it meant big ego wonderful cop out, not to mention that I knew that if the article had some valid points I would have either to challenge those points one by one with solid statements supporting my view or receive a good blow in egoic face. Either situation was kind of unbearable.<br /><br />On another point, is very clear that Muruganar went to Bhagavan and chose to stay with him because <b>the Maharshi WAS RIGHT THERE!</b>. <br />Who is there nowadays? Even David Godman says that if there was anyone of that caliber he will be seated at his feet right now, and I doubt that David is postponing his sadhana until that moment.<br /><br />If we really think an outer guru is that necessary why spent the whole day theorizing about that importance instead of leaving everything in search of that... guru or “sage”, if there is one?<br />Why waste time when our sage is just not only closer to ourself than anything else but also <b>ourself</b> and pay attention to him?<br />Mounahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02416580298727681711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-72266827940357951642019-03-31T15:50:57.027+01:002019-03-31T15:50:57.027+01:00Aham et al., as usual you misunderstand what I am ...Aham et al., as usual you misunderstand what I am saying. I haven't read Michael's new article yet - depending how long I may not.<br /><br />Regarding the Maharaj's comment about "guru's and saints" ... That's exactly what he meant, gurus and saints and NOT sages. Usually, "gurus and saints", and I believe even Michael has written somewhere an article about that, are not Self-realized and it would be silly to run after those, i.e Osho.<br /><br />However if I'd take the effort (and I won't) I could quote several comments by the Maharaj about the importance to meet and be in the presence of a sage. <br /><br />But it is not only about meeting a sage, it is who we accept as a sage and then their teaching is impeccable. Is anybody grasping the significance and hole in Michael's reasoning? For all those who feel "advanced" and THINK in absolute terms, just then deal with the guru within.<br /><br />What is the big fuzz anyway to insist on only the "guru within"? The outer and inner guru are the same, so why then discarding the outer guru? BOTH are essential.<br /><br />Bhagavan sent away Annamalai Swami so he doesn't get attached to his form. And yet Bhagavan met him from time to time....<br /><br />You said and I quote, "I suspect Mr James no longer requires the outer guru. He realises the true guru is within and so looks there."<br /><br />Ah, whatever Mr. James does must be right ;-)<br /><br />What about Muruganar then, you'll agree with me that he is a little more "advanced" than Michael, why did he spend most of his life with Bhagavan? Why bother to move to Sri Ramanasramam (as countless others) when he has the "guru within"? I guess he has not read Michael's treatise "Is a human guru really necessary?" :-)<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br />Purification of mind does NOT reflect on one’s outward behavior, a purified mind is no mind and any perceived behavior is illusionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03403745904820287115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-14212121025945638062019-03-31T14:28:13.733+01:002019-03-31T14:28:13.733+01:00Salazar, I have replied to your comment of 29 Marc...Salazar, I have replied to your comment of <a href="#c8635294486805776035" rel="nofollow">29 March 2019 at 15:19</a> in a separate article: <a href="https://happinessofbeing.blogspot.com/2019/03/whatever-jnana-we-believe-we-see-in.html" rel="nofollow">Whatever <i>jñāna</i> we believe we see in anyone else is false</a>.Michael Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03460943269122289281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-33976068704231456402019-03-31T13:10:13.290+01:002019-03-31T13:10:13.290+01:00Ramana philosophy is clear:
Since perfect happines...Ramana philosophy is clear:<br />Since perfect happiness is our real nature it is ever present. If we attain to things other than self by rising as ego-person we restrict of course our fundamental happiness.anadi-anantahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08815024045988099944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-78099537928907017492019-03-31T12:51:55.524+01:002019-03-31T12:51:55.524+01:00Unknown, you wonder if ‘there is no happiness on t...Unknown, you wonder if ‘there is no happiness on the path, only on final attainment’? There is no permanent or abiding on happiness on the path. This is because when we are travelling on this path, we are oscillating between our inward directed vision and our outward directed vision. When our vision is turned within, we do experience happiness but such happiness gives way to unhappiness when we abandon our inward vision and look outwards. <br /><br />So in this sense, we can experience real, permanent and infinite happiness only on final attainment. <br />Sanjay Lohiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02384912997886218824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-70086304499375347092019-03-31T12:10:28.498+01:002019-03-31T12:10:28.498+01:00Michael,
In one the recent YouTube movies you tal...Michael,<br /><br />In one the recent YouTube movies you talk about the 14 paragraph of Nan Yar? At the very beginning you say: „...the goal is the happiness and when correctly understood the path is also the happiness as the nature of the path can't be other than the nature of the goal...” - fully agree with you, what you mention here is very important, indisputable rule, let's call it: „the fundamental rule”.<br /><br />To make my point simply I am assuming that:<br /><br />- the Self is happiness and the ego is unhappiness<br /><br />- our real nature = Self = happiness.<br /><br />In order to be in line with the „fundamental rule” you pointed out in the movie, there must be the real happiness (Self or our real nature) on the path of Atma-Vichara or self-attention, because otherwise the path would not lead to the goal (Self, real happiness, our real nature). This is what you declare in the movie.<br /><br />However, in this post you seemingly contradict this statement saying that we "experience" our real nature only as the final attainment when the path of Atma-Vichara is completed and when the ego is annihilated once and forever, so you seem to tell us indirectly that there is no real happiness on the path, only in the final attainment. On the path there is still the ego which is unhappiness so there can't be happiness, right? You seem to be on the opinion that until ego dies forever in mano-nasa state we have no chance to experience our real nature being still on the path because the I-thought doesn't disappear or subside on the path (mano-laya states don't count here), but only when it is finished, correct?<br /><br />In addition, you seem to advocate the theory of „180 degrees” (expressed in some other of your posts) claiming that until we turn our attention 180 back to the Self (happiness) we can't really experience the Self (happiness) because there are still some second or third persons thoughts which obscure it, even if we achieved 179 degrees. So 180 degrees mean final ego destruction in an instant and mano-nasa state, everything less than 180 is not real Self experience, no ego subsidence, no real happiness – we are always only „close to”. Correct?<br /><br />So it seems in the move you claim there is the same happiness on the path as in the final goal, whereas here you seem to claim the opposite .<br /><br />In order to clarify would you please tell us where exactly in the path of Atma-Vichara taught by Bhagavan Sri Ramana is a real happiness (Self, our real nature - not mano-laya state), the same as in the goal or final attainment?<br />(wherein I assume that „close” means still a defective state of happiness (ego is still present) and according to the „fundamental rule” such defective state can only lead to a defective happiness not a perfect happiness which is real our nature.)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18182449033183948955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-55344450352336226382019-03-31T09:41:02.584+01:002019-03-31T09:41:02.584+01:00.
@Salazar
And since you are fond of Nisargadatt....<br /><br />@Salazar<br /><br />And since you are fond of Nisargadatta and Papaji, here's what they had to say about the guru in form:<br /><br />"Running after saints (gurus) is merely another game to play. Remember yourself instead and watch your daily life relentlessly. Be earnest, and you shall not fail to break the bonds of inattention and imagination." (Nisargadatta)<br /><br />*<br /><br />"Question: Has the Maharshi's physical demise made a difference in the guidance that is available to seekers following the path he laid down?<br /><br />Papaji: It doesn't make any difference whether he is alive or whether he is no more now. It doesn't make any difference, because it is not the form or the person that gives you satisfaction. And for those who want to seek the path that he laid, it is always there. That is, to keep quiet and find out who you are, and find out what is the source of this universe and from where does it come." <br /><br />*<br /><br />Papaji and Nisargadatta both gave answers according to the questioner's needs. For some they directed them to turn within and find the guru there; as in the responses above. For those unable to do this, they told them they needed a guru in form.<br /><br />If an aspirant such as yourself is not able to cling to the guru within they will be attracted to the teacher's answers that encourage having a guru in form, and hanker for such.<br /><br />.<br /><br />Aham Asmihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11706579115577800525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-68434972964534184622019-03-31T07:45:48.418+01:002019-03-31T07:45:48.418+01:00Michael James thanks for ur answers
First i know ...Michael James thanks for ur answers<br /><br />First i know ur Arunachala articles. First though u seem to accept the Arunachala hill related lines of maharshi , you will take those sentences and convert them into self enquiry interpretations. ISCKON version in sri Ramana maharshi school is typically you. It is Beyond doubt proved in navamanimalai padhigam ashtakam akaharamana malai that maharshi literally considered the Arunachala hill as Self. But u said elsewhere that Arunachala worship is a additional accessory to main self enquiry. Even if i quote Tamil lines u will find some inner meaning to self enquiry<br /><br />And wat about sadhu Om? Have u read all his Tamil poems? RMCL has bought about Ramana geetham. There beyond least doubt sadhu Om has employed pure devotion without self enquiry tips in many songs. But u are selectively silent on sadhu Om bhakthi aspects.<br /><br />I don't have any issue in your self enquiry method or ur telling wat is not self enquiry. I myself do self enquiry as keeping the inner most feeling of I and holding that I thought<br /><br />But the issue with you is , you are trying to prove that even Bhagavan devotional verses are only self enquiry<br /><br />I take ur ulladhu narpadhu and upadesa undiyar into high regard. But when u try to prove even Arunachala related verses as sf enquiry it looks so narrow and artificial<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />Do u agree mere arunachala Japa, giri pradakshina will ensure liberation? No u will not. U will say they must be practiced as auxiliary practice along with self enquiry <br /><br />And u guys completely ignore mother alagammal mukthi where Bhagavan sat with her forba night and fast forwarded her karma. And cow Lakshmi liberatuon also. Because these two cases grace comes into picture. It is so alien for u guys but u could not call it as rubbish like u did with Talks book because maharshi himself beyond doubt accepted his intervention mother alagammal case<br /><br />And u guys are famous to belittle sari chakra at mother shrine saying maharishee touched bathroom handle more times than sri chakra<br /><br />This is 100 percent isckon type cult only<br /><br />Let me tell u instead of writing essays and dragging everyone u better practice self enquiry.krishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10287083145696496091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-51102124718035632422019-03-31T03:01:37.200+01:002019-03-31T03:01:37.200+01:00testtestAham Asmihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11706579115577800525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-88622405545447253872019-03-30T23:15:28.657+00:002019-03-30T23:15:28.657+00:00.
@Salazar
"To proclaim that a living sage ....<br /><br />@Salazar<br /><br />"To proclaim that a living sage is not necessary is born out of ignorance. An aspirant cannot succeed by himself alone even when he properly does Self-inquiry."<br /><br /><b>Each speaks according to their understanding.</b><br /><br />In fact Sri Ramana stated that the mature ones do not require a guru in form. For the outer guru is only to show the aspirant that the true guru is within.<br /><br />I suspect Mr James no longer requires the outer guru. He realises the true guru is within and so looks there.<br /><br />The rest, not recognising the true guru is within, go about telling everyone they need a guru in form.<br /><br /><br /><i>O people, not knowing that Shiva is dwelling within you, you fly about like birds from one holy place (person) to another [seeking His Darshan]. Consciousness, when abiding still in the Heart, is the Supreme Shiva. (GVK, v190)</i><br /><br />.Aham Asmihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11706579115577800525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-85701583030318614342019-03-30T17:12:12.405+00:002019-03-30T17:12:12.405+00:00Unknown, you state "Sorry. but self does not ...Unknown, you state "Sorry. but self does not have eyes...."<br />Is there anything not seen by the self ?<br />Is not the omnipresent and omniscient consciousness of self called its eye ?anadi-anantahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08815024045988099944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-18906487944985886712019-03-30T06:42:47.070+00:002019-03-30T06:42:47.070+00:00Michael,
many thanks for the given link to your wo...Michael,<br />many thanks for the given link to your wonderful article "The Power of Arunachala (originally published in the April 1982 issue of The Mountain Path)". <br /><br />Arunachala !anadi-anantahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08815024045988099944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-49199194075415048182019-03-30T00:06:39.079+00:002019-03-30T00:06:39.079+00:00Sorry. but self does not have eyes....Sorry. but self does not have eyes....Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08736203860008216001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-34120609999320423122019-03-29T16:17:10.280+00:002019-03-29T16:17:10.280+00:00A moment in time outside time
Yesterday I was wor...A moment in time outside time<br /><br />Yesterday I was working in front of my computer and a rush of anxiety showed its fangs in my heart and mind. For a moment I felt shaken since it took me by surprise. Many things going on wildly in this so called <i>life</i>...<br /><br />Next to my big monitor I have a rare photo of Bhagavan I really cherish since the time I bought it in Ramanasramam’s bookstore. It might be some remaining photos from a photo session. At that time I bought three, real photos, old paper, a portrait of Him, sepia tone, looking at the camera, through the camera, at you or me, directly into our eyes, <b>through</b> us, like a sphinx gaze, eyes fixed in the timeless, and yet carrying us with Him into this inward journey.<br /><br />Flying back home, my next seat neighbor in the plane, a chinese lady that didn’t speak a word of english, suddenly took out a book of Bhagavan, in chinese, which she started reading. Surprise and emotion to witness the wheel, the fabric of the whole cosmos rearranging itself in a strange but beatiful serendipitous way. I started gesticulating and finally gave her one of the three photographs to seal that moment in time of two beings united by a teacher who was just gazing out of an old photo. The second photo was damaged in time and lost it. Only this one is still adorning my days.<br /><br />Back to the sudden anxiety rush, it took just one look at this photo, to be completely pierced by that timeless, all embracing look, and in that specific silent moment took care of my burden, engulfing it back into emptiness, leaving a sweet feeling of grace revealed…<br /><br />I wish we could post photographs in this blog for you to understand what I mean, but on second thoughts, it might really not be necessary, that gaze is our own self looking at us, our beloved teacher, our guide, our <b>own</b> Arunachala taking form in a pair of beautiful eyes, while softly inviting us to...Mounahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02416580298727681711noreply@blogger.com